Method and means for separating dust from air



A ril 13 1926. 1,580,473

J. B. DYER METHOD AND MEANS FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM AIR Filed Nov. 25,1922 Max 5. fins/e,

Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN B. DYER, or rnneuson, mrssoon'r.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR SEPABATING DUST FROM A118;

Application filed November 25, 1922. Serial No. 603,166;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. DYEn, a

accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view I citizen of the UnitedStates, and residing at Ferguson, St. Louis County Missouri, haveinvented the new and useful I Methods and Means for Separating Dust fromAir, of which the following is a specification. p v

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating dustfrom air. While in the following, the descriptionis confined topurifying air, this method and apparatus can, of course, be used forseparating dust and suspended particles from any other gas as well. Inthe most general application of apparatus for separating dustfrom air,namely the well known vacuum sweeper, the dust laden air is sucked up bya fan of some sort. The suction of the fan in most cases is alsoeifective in stirring up the dust which is to be carried oif so as /tomix the same with the inrushing air. The dust laden air is then passedthrough a separating chamber formed by a porous bag or similar devicewhich will allow the air to pass through but will retain most of thedust. With this method, the fan which moves the air must not only supplya strong suction so as to provide a sufficient volume of moving air togather up the dust to be removed, but it must also supply SllfliClGIltpressure to force the air throughthe pores of the bag. In order to be e'ective, such a bag must have comparatively small pores so that itwill'catch the finest dust particles. Consequently the pressure requiredto force the air through the small openings is considerable. After usingsuch a bag for an extended period, the pores become clogged up with dustso that the resistance to the passage of air through the pores isgreatly increased and the effectiveness of the device accordinglydiminished.

One of the objects of this invention, therefor, is to provide a methodand means for separating the dust from the air which Wlll renderunnecessary the use of porous bags and similar devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus.whereby the dust may be separated from the air by mechanical action, andwhereby the dust will be retained within the apparatus while the air maypass freely therethrough.

mprovement inv Further objects will appear from the detail descriptiontaken in connection with the pf a vacuum sweeper embodying this inven-Figure 2 is a'section on line 2-.-2, Figure 1; V I

"Figure 3 is a section on' line 3-3, Figure 1; and r I I Figure 4 is adetail showing another construction for the stationary vanes;

IVhile in the following the descriptionof the method and apparatus isgiven as applying to a vacuum sweeper, the invention may also be appliedto other devices for separating dust from gases, such as in the case ofseparating out the dust collected from sanding and finishing machines inshoefactories and similar apparatus in chemical dust separatingprocesses which are at present carried on in bag-house's, and to otherlike processes.

In accordance with this invention, the

'body of air'to be purified is set in rotation at a high s eed. As theair assumes the form of a rapid y whirling annulus, the dust par ticlescontained therein will, by centrifugal action, be thrown outwardly tothe outer region of the rotating annulus. On account of this action, theair in the interior or central portion of the rotating annulus willbecome free from dust particles and purified; In accordance with thisinvention the air at the interior portion of the rotating annulus isthen directed inwardly and to the outlet of the apparatus. Thus theurified air is removed from the whirling ody so as to allow a free suplyof dust laden air to be introduced t ereinto. In this method,therefore the dust laden air is set into rotation and delivered to thewhirling aniiulus or rotating body. of air, wherein the dust particlesare thrown to the outer suitable design, not shown. A handle 4 ma innercasing 7 which is mounted for rotation beattached to thebody 1 formanipulatmg the sweeper.

Mounted on the base 1' is an outer casing or container 5 provided with acentral op'ening 6 communicating with the chamber 2 in the base 1.Within the container 5 is an on the shaft 8 of a motor 9 mounted on thevbase 1. The shaft 8 extends through the base 1 and through the opening6 of the container 5 and carries a spider 10' upon which the innercasing 7 is mounted for ro-- tation on the shaft 8. The arms of thespider may be formed to provide vanes 11 7 arranged in the form of a fanand at the same time, carrying the casing 7. It will be evident,therefore, that upon starting the motor, the vanes 11 and the casing 7will '20 be driven at: a high rotative speedf The casing 7 may also beprovided with a removable cover 12 having an outlet openg in 13. l I

1 %[he outer container 5may be provided with a cover 14 hinged at 15- tothe containerand provided with a latch 16 to keep it closed. The cover14 isfprovided with anoutlet opening 17 opposite the opemng 13 in thecover 12. Mounted on the cover 14 and extending into the opening 13 is aseries of vanes 18. These vanes may be supported by a P1313819 at theirinner extremities so as to make them rigid. The series of vanes 18 hasanoutside diameter approximately the same'as the series of vanes 11 andthe,

- vanes 18 extend inwardly to or beyond the rim of the opening 17 in thecover 14. The

4 vanes 18 may be curved as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 having theirouter edges directed against the movement of the r0- tating annulus ofair contained in the casing The direction of rotation of this air isindicated by the arrow, in Figure -3. The

. v {blades'18 may also be twisted so as to defleet the air outwardly atthe opening 17 as indicated in Figure 4.

v In the operation ofthis device, the rotation of the vanes 11 with thecasing 7 by the motor 9 sets into rotation the air confined between theblades 11. Such rotation pro duces centrifugal action which throws theair outwardly into the casing 7. i The movement of air outwardly fromthe vanes 11 creates a suction at the opening 6-so as to draw air fromthe chamber 2 and the inlet j 3. The vanes 11 thus set the air intorotation and deliver-the same to the casing 7 annulus of dust ladenair.-

fied. .The vanes 18 being directed the movement of the air in the caslng7 particles move outwardly, the air along the inner portion of theannulus becomes puriagainst will scoop" the cleansed air. from the innerportion of the annulus and convey it' inwardly or centripetall along theblades 18 to the opening 17 w ere'the purified air will be dischar ed.The vanes 18 also assist the action of t e vanes 11 by reducing therotation'of'the air at the outlet of the casing 7 and, therefore,reducing the back pressure which would be present if this body of airwere in rotation.

It will thus be seen the the invention accomplishes its objects. Thevanes 11 operate to set the air into rapid rotation so as to form arotating annulus of air contained within and rotating with the casing 7.By the centrifugal action set up by the rotation of this annulus, thedust particles are driven to the outer. portion thereof and lodgeduponthe outer wall of' the casing 7 which rotates with the annulus. Thevanes 18 extending into the path of the rotating air along the innerportion of the annulus then deflect the air inwardly and discharge thesame from the opening 17.

When the cleaning operation has been finished, the dust may be removedby opening the coverll which carries with it the vanes 18 so as toexposethe thumb nut 20 which secures the spider 10 and the casing 7 tothe shaft 8.

the shaft, after which removed and contents.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details ofconstruction without departing from the it is, therefore, to beunderstood that this in vention is not to be limited to the specificdetails shown' and described. a

Havin thus described the invention, what isc aimed is: I

1. In a portable suction sweeper, the combination with a casing having,an inlet and an outlet, of rotating blades for producing a rotatingannulus of air and. stationary blades extending into the rotatingannulus and conveying air to said outlet.

2. In a portable suction sweeper, in combination, a casing, means fordrawing a dust-laden current of air into the casing and givingit awhirling motion to effect centrlfuga s ing and conveying the cleansedair from t the cover 12 me be the casing 7 emptied of its centralportion of the whirling mass and discharging it.

3. a portable suction sweeper, in comblIlELtl'OIl, a casing, means fordrawing a dustladen current of a1r into the casing and giveparation, andmeans for scoolp- I Theoperator may then remove this nut and slip thecasing from' spirit of this invention;

ing it a whirling motion to efiect centrifugal separation, and means forscooping and conveying the cleansed air from the central portion of thewhirling mass and controlling its motion as it is discharged.

4. In a portable suction sweeper, the com-v bination with a rotatingcasing having an inlet and an outlet, of rotary means adapted to causethe air within said casing to rotate therewith, thus producing arotating annulus, a motor for rotating said casing and actuating saidrotary means, and means for reducing the rotation of the air inside ofthe rotating annulus'whereby a centripetal outflow is effected.

5. In a portable suction sweeper, the combination with a rotating casinghaving an inlet and an outlet, of vanes within said casing rotatingtherewith for producing a rotating annulus of air therein, a motor forrotating saidvblades and said casing and stationary blades extendinginto the rotating annulus for conveying air to said outlet.

6. In a portable suction sweeper, in comblnatlon, a casing, means fordrawlng a dustladencurrent of an into the caslng and giving it awhirling motion to effect centrifugal separation, and a pluralit ofblades disposed to collect cleansed air rom the whirllng mass and todischarge it.

7, In a portable suction sweeper, in com bination, a casing, means fordrawing a dustladen current of air into the casing and giving it awhirling motion to effect centrifugal separation, and a plurality ofstationary blades disposed to collect cleansed air from the whirlingmass and to discharge it at substantially right angles to the axis ofthe whirling mass.

8. In a portable suction cleaner, the combination of a suction member, arotating casing having an inlet communicating with the interior saidsuction member, a plurality of blades mounted for rotation, a motorhaving a driving connection at said inlet with said casing and bladesand a plurality of stationary blades for retarding rotary movement ofair centrally of said casing whereby a centripetal discharge iseffected.

In testimony whereof I'afiix my signature this 15th day of November,1922.

. JOHN B. DYER.

